“This was a vicious, unprovoked homophobic attack by Mark Malone on a harmless, innocent man.

“Our thoughts are with the family who have been forced to endure a trial.

“I would like to thank my team of Surrey officers who worked diligently to prove Malone’s guilt, along with the media who greatly assisted in publicising our witness appeals, using their networks to reach potential witnesses across the country who may not otherwise have been keen to come forward.”

Malone, from Walton-on-Thames, is married with two young children.

It emerged during the trial that he has a conviction for attacking an autistic man who smiled at him in Truro, Cornwall in 2003.

Malone was sentenced to three months in jail. He said he thought the victim was gay.

Malone attacked another man at the same toilets in Walton just months before he murdered Mr Akers.